Jinan, capital of East China's Shandong province, aims to develop a regional cross-border commodity center integrating imports, exhibitions, experiences and trade during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-25), according to its business development plan.

The city will assist key enterprises in establishing overseas branches in order to develop three or four competitive industry clusters in other countries. It will promote businesses to engage in cross-border mergers and acquisitions, as well as cross-border investment collaboration, in order to create 10 transnational enterprises with strong international competitiveness.

Jinan will further strengthen cooperation with countries in the European Union and give full play to the role of the China-Europe freight train service, overseas economic and trade cooperation zones and overseas warehouses to expand the European and American markets.

Emphasis will also be placed on economic and trade cooperation with Japan and South Korea to cultivate featured products exported to the two countries and further explore Japanese and South Korean markets.

By 2025, the total import and export volume of the city's goods is expected to increase by more than 25 percent annually. During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, actual use of foreign capital in the city will reach $13 billion, with an average growth rate of nearly 10 percent.